Tiny puppy dumped on ‘coldest night of the year’ in Manchester just weeks before Christmas
The Patterdale terrier was abandoned on Tuesday on Oxford Road.
The RSPCA say a tiny six-week-old puppy was ‘lucky to survive’ after being found abandoned in a cardboard box on the coldest night of year in Manchester.
The Patterdale terrier pup was abandoned on Tuesday night (12th December) when temperatures across the country plummeted to below freezing and snow continued to cause problems in parts of England.
RSPCA animal collection officer Heather Cook was called by a woman who had found the pup dumped outside Sainsbury’s on Oxford Road, in Manchester.
ACO Cook said: “The lady was walking to the shop and spotted the box on the side of the pavement. Thank goodness she decided to peek inside because she found the frightened and cold little pup huddled under a blanket.
“She picked him up, popped him inside her coat and very kindly took him home with her before calling us.”
The RSPCA officer went to collect the dog - now called Elfie - that night, took him to a vet for a check-up and then took him home.
She added: “News reports said it was the coldest night of the year on Tuesday with -13C recorded in parts of the country. Weather forecasts said it fell to -7C in Manchester and it was bitterly cold and very icy.
“Poor little Elfie is too young to be away from his mum and certainly wouldn’t have survived for long outside in such cold, treacherous conditions.
“He’s lucky to be alive and it’s so fortunate that someone spotted him and called us.”
ACO Cook, who lives in Worsley, is now hand-rearing the little pup herself.
“I currently have him in my care as he shouldn't be away from his mother so I'm early weaning him,” she said. “He’s lovely and constantly wants to be snuggled up to you. For such a little thing he’s got an incredibly loud cry so he tends to get his way!
“My children, Ava and Ethan, are completely besotted with him and my other dog, rescue bulldog Roxi, is acting like mummy, she’s really taken him under her wing. It’s lovely to see.
“It looks as though he’ll be staying here with us for Christmas - and I’m sure he’ll still be here next Christmas and for many more to come!”
The RSPCA is now appealing for information about how little Elfie came to be abandoned. The charity is urging anyone with information about where he came from or who dumped him to get in touch by calling 0300 123 8018 and leaving a message for ACO Cook.
“It’s not clear why he was abandoned but I wonder if the owners simply couldn't cope with an extra mouth to feed or if they were hoping for a female they could breed from and didn’t want a male dog,” ACO Cook said.
“Whatever reason, there is absolutely no excuse to abandon such a vulnerable, dependant pup like this - and certainly not in such harsh weather. He could have died."
Anyone who is concerned for the welfare of an animal should call the RSPCA’s 24-hour emergency hotline on 0300 1234 999 for help and advice.